Victim of Deception by Lynn LaFleur Read Free Book Online Page B

yes, I’m fine.”
    Her voice sounded husky, as if she’d just awoken. “Are you sure?”
    Slowly, Mary got to her feet. “We need to leave her alone now.”
    “What did you do?”
    “She’ll dream of him.”
    She looked at Aaron, and her eyes appeared normal once again. Aaron wished he could take her in his arms, hold her, to be sure she was truly all right. Instead, he rose from the bed and followed Mary out of the room.
     
     
     
    Karessa no longer felt the cool air surrounding her. The sensation had been similar to the one she’d experienced the first day she walked into this house, as if she were standing directly beneath an air conditioning vent. She looked up at the ceiling. There were two vents in the room, but neither of them blew directly onto the bed. Besides, she hadn’t turned on the air conditioning yet because of the construction work.
    Something—or some one —had touched her.
    Her mind was too fuzzy to concentrate now on who that someone could be. A sudden yawn made her jaw pop. She’d been reading a bit of her great-grandmother’s diary every evening in bed. Tonight, she could barely keep her eyes open. All she wanted to do was sleep.
    Karessa turned off the lamp and crawled between the cool sheets. An image of Max’s face flashed through her mind, as it had each evening since she’d seen him in her living room. Memories swam through her head…memories of a time when she’d been so desperately in love…
     
     
     
    Karessa closed her eyes and tilted back her head. The warm wind ruffled her hair, making her smile. What a perfect day. Comfortable temperature, gentle breeze, and the man she loved. A woman couldn’t ask for much more.
    She opened her eyes and gazed at Max on the blanket. He lay propped up on one elbow, chewing on a toothpick, looking at her. A crooked grin touched his lips. “Did you like the picnic?”
    “Very much. It was a nice surprise.” She touched her stomach. “I ate way too much.”
    “You’re supposed to eat too much on a picnic. It’s a rule.”
    “A rule?”
    “Yeah. Just like it’s a rule for the picnickee to pay the picnicker with a kiss.”
    Karessa struggled not to laugh. “‘Picnickee’?”
    He shrugged and grinned. “You get the idea.”
    “Yes, I do.” Karessa moved toward him on her knees. “I think it’s an excellent idea.” She took the toothpick from his mouth and tossed it to the ground. “You do realize that I probably won’t stop with only one kiss.”
    His grin widened. “I certainly hope not.”
    Leaning forward, she softly kissed him. He tasted of the wine they’d drunk with their meal. Tilting her head, she slowly moved her lips over his. He cradled the back of her head in his hand and returned her kiss. The tip of his tongue touched her lips, seeking entrance into her mouth. Karessa parted her lips ever so slightly, giving him only a tiny sample of her.
    Max growled deep in his throat. “Open your mouth, Karessa.”
    “You can be such an impatient man.”
    “I am when it comes to you. Let me taste you.”
    Their mouths were but an inch apart. Each word he spoke puffed air across her skin. The sensation made her nipples pucker. With a soft moan, she parted her lips for his tongue.
    Karessa could count the number of her lovers on one hand. She’d had one guy who barely knew what he was doing, and two guys who were very good lovers. Not even the very good onescould compare to Max. He made her body sing every time they made love.
    He slid his hand down her back to her buttock and squeezed it. His tongue stroked over her lips and teeth before beginning a dual with hers. She whimpered. His kisses touched not only her mouth, but every part of her body. She’d always scoffed at the term “his kisses made her melt.” She no longer scoffed. Max’s kisses did, indeed, make her melt.
    Karessa knew in another moment, he would push her to her back so he could caress her entire body. While she loved his touch, she planned to be